We take a step back in time with NEScol drama students.
A group of Aberdeen students will be taking ACT (Arts Centre & Theatre) audiences back to the 1900s tonight.
Second-year students taking the HND acting and performance course at NEScol have been hard at work for their final assessment of the year – their production of Our Town.
Tiana Wilson, 21, is one of the cast members involved in the show, which is set in a fictional town in New Hampshire in a very different era from today.
Acting as one of the narrators to the tale of two families, the Gibbs and the Webbs, Tiana helps to guide the audience through the tale.
“The story is about two families who are neighbours and best friends,” she says.
“It follows them over 13 years as they live and grow together. The play shows the simpler things in life, showing us to appreciate the little things.
“It is not sad or happy – the ending is more lingering rather than having a big focus on something more dramatic. It is very much about appreciating life.”
Vicki Jamieson, a drama lecturer for the course, chose and cast the play for the students when they returned from the Christmas holidays. Since then they have been working hard on learning lines and helping out behind the scenes with the set and costumes.
“It is a new experience for me playing a narrative role,” explained Tiana.
“I have to fill in the gaps in time. The set is also minimal and there are next to no props, so you have to keep in your mind where your doorways are on stage and the layout.
“It is a challenge as an actor.”
As part of their course the students have to put on two performances and are graded on the show as well as their involvement. Since being cast, the students have been researching their parts and the period of the play.
“We watched the old back and white movies which gave an insight into the time period,” said Tiana.
“We did some research on the New Hampshire accent. It is up to us to do the research and check in with Vicki that it matches up with her vision of the show.
“Even though we are being assessed, you forget about that when you are on stage. Performing makes it easier.”
The students have already done one production this academic year. Pushing pre-show nerves to one side, they are keen for the message of the show to come through for the audience.
Tiana said: “It is a reflective story, relatable to everyday life for people with a positive idea.”
The students will be performing Our Town at Basement Studio Theatre at North East Scotland College on Thursday and Friday, May 18 and 19. See www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/events/our-town-397954
